Its a Party!!!

Sugar Free (Mostly) Banana Bread
Well, how can it be totally sugar-free when the ripe bananas are full of sugar?



I just love these little individual sized baking pans. Mini cakes are so darned cute.




Out of the pans! And none of them stuck! Thomas was hoping there would be a broken one that he could try out. So...





... I broke one for him. He's so spoiled. But he's so worth it!

Here's the recipe if you want to try these. They are delicious! I have to give my sister Martie her props for this recipe. She made this one night while we were down at her house visiting. When I got home, I emailed her and asked her for the recipe. This is what she emailed me back:

Hey Sis,
Here it is:
1 c sugar (I use 1/2 to 3/4 depending on how ripe/sweet the bananas are)
1 egg
2 c all purpose flour (or 2 cup self rise, but leave out the salt and baking soda if you use it)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c Veg Oil
3 or 4 lg ripe bananas mashed
1 tsp baking soda
Nuts optional

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. I guess muffin tins wouldn't take as long as cake/biscuit pan? Anyway, you know how to do it I'm sure.

When I made these for gifting I only changed it like this:
I added 2 tsp baking powder (it helps make it not so dense) and I changed the sugar to just a taddy over 1/4 cup of Splenda. I think Splenda is sweeter than sugar, so don't usually use as much. I also only used 1/4 cup oil with 1/4 cup buttermilk. Then I added 1/2 c of hershey's sugar-free chocolate chips. Baked for about 15 minutes in the little pans. When I made the larger one (see picture lower down) I baked it for about 35 minutes.




Finished gift bags for the folks in Pete's office.
Each one contains:
Pecan Penuche
Maple Walnut Fudge
Candy Cane Fudge
Mocha Fudge
Panettone
1/2 dz. Assorted Cookies

As you can see there are no little banana breads in the sacks.





That's because I made a large one for them!
Okay, there was a small one in that picture of the gift bag contents, but that was a 'special' bag for someone who wasn't going to be there to get any of the big one.





And I made a platter with a mound of silver and gold colored sugar cookies rising like a mountain out of a sea of Mocha Fudge and Candy Cane White Chocolate Fudge.




This is a double layer platter of Pecan Penuche and Maple Walnut Fudge. Both really good stuff.




And last, but not least, a platter full of Coconut Macaroons and Chocolate Peanut Cookies. I love Coconut Macaroons. Don't know why I don't make them more often. They aren't hard to do.


Now for the Grand Finale!



And a good time was had by all!


I make the individual gift bags for the people that my husband works directly with. I make the platters for the people who work out in the shop and for any of the drivers who might come in. By all accounts it is appreciated and enjoyed. And knowing that gives me joy.



I hope you all have something that brings you joy in this season and in all the seasons ahead.